services

Retainers

There are many patients out there who need to receive orthodontic treatment from children to adults. Those who do seek out the proper treatment will be able to enjoy a lifetime of straight smiles that they can show off. When patients fail to receive orthodontic treatment, they may be unhappy with the way their teeth look, but there is no age that is considered “too old” to receive treatment. Below, our team of dentists will talk more in-depth about retainers and explain them to you, as they are an effective orthodontic treatment that is still used today.

You and a Removable Retainer

Just because you had your braces taken off or you wrapped up orthodontic treatment does not mean that the process is over. In fact, it is important that you continue treatment and follow ups to ensure that your teeth remain in their new, corrected position.

Orthodontic appliances come off at a variety of stages during the treatment process and when they do, you will receive a removable retainer to wear. These retainers help to ensure the results from treatment are stabilized.

Once the bone and soft tissues around the teeth have been stabilized for several months, the retainer is then removed, and you will not have to wear it anymore. It is vital that you wear the retainer as directed and not take it out or fiddle with it. If you fail to wear a retainer as directed, your teeth may shift and cause an undesirable result, which would require re-treatment.

How is a Retainer Worn?

While you do have permanent teeth, they are not permanently in place and they can move within your mouth in different situations. It is important that you keep a retainer in your mouth once your teeth have been shifted to a position of desire. Some patients will need to wear a retainer indefinitely, but this is not the case with most patients.

Retainers are worn in the mouth for a minimum of one year once treatment is completed. Once that year is up, retainers are only worn at night. By wearing the retainer at night, you do not have to worry about your wisdom teeth pushing through and shifting your corrected smile.

You will need to come into our Thornton, CO office once every 6 to 9 months to have a checkup to make sure that your teeth are continuing to develop correctly. You will only need to have x-rays performed once every year and a half.

Once the wisdom teeth grow in, you will then need to wear your retainer at least once per night throughout the week to ensure your muscles and teeth can keep their pressure. You will also find that this method ensures that you do not experience any crowding or movement of the teeth.

Properly Caring for Your Retainer: 101

If you are fitted for a retainer, it is vital that you care for your retainer and you make sure to keep it in good condition. Retainers come made from a specialized thermoplastic material that is quite sensitive to heat, so this means you do not want to place the retainer near a heater, in the dishwasher, or on the car’s dashboard. In general, you want to keep your retainer in temperatures that do not go above 115 degrees Fahrenheit.

You will also need to make sure that you keep your retainer in its proper case to ensure it is not exposed to extreme elements. You also want to make sure that your retainer is kept from animals, as they may pass bacteria to you or chew on the plastic.

Taking time to clean your retainer will pay off in the end as it will ensure the retainer does not hold onto any plaque or debris from the mouth. You should clean the retainer with a soft toothbrush and scrub it gently with soap to ensure that it is clean on all sides.

You can place the retainer in a denture cleaning solution but do rinse off the retainer after you do. Since you want to wear the retainer for as many years as possible, you need to care for it properly.

Your treatment plan will often include one replacement retainer once your braces have been removed from your mouth. If you do neglect or damage the retainer, you will need to pay for the replacement yourself.

Stronger Retention May Be Needed

There are situations where a retainer may not be effective, and you may need stronger retention than what the retainer can offer you. Some of those situations include:

Tongue thrusting

Playing a musical instrument that has a reed

Clenching or grinding of the teeth

Lip sucking

Pen or pencil biting

Mouth breathing

Severely rotated teeth

Spacing between the teeth prior to your treatment

It is the goal of Thornton Town Center Family Dental to provide you with a beautiful and strong smile for life. We know that orthodontic treatment is a process and we are committed to making sure you can have a smile you are proud of.

Follow-Up Dental Exams and Cleanings

The dentists at Thornton Town Center Family Dental recommend that you continue to brush and floss your teeth as recommended. If you have any questions about your retainer or you run into any problems with your retainer, now is the time to get in touch with us at our Thornton, CO office.

Botox is another option available for treatment. Botox is injected into the muscles. It will help prevent grinding from occurring, and it will not disrupt your daily life either.

At Thornton Town Center Family Dental, our focus is to treat the bruxism and help to get it under control. If your teeth have been damaged from it, we have treatment options available to ensure that your smile is beautiful! Call our Thornton, CO office today to schedule an appointment with one of our dentists.

Reviews

We Appreciate All of Our Thornton Patients!

Thornton Town Center Family Dental would not be as successful without the support from all of our patients. We are proud to be able to serve the local area and thank you for all of the referrals you have sent our way! Below, you will find some of our recent reviews from Thornton patients!

Zoey Wright

I had a million questions that I wanted to ask and they did an awesome job and answering every single one. And the staff do an awesome job at making me feel comfortable while they work on my teeth!

1 month ago

Michael L.

ALL the Doctors and staff are extremely nice and very professional. The office is very clean and modern. They have all the latest technology and every one seems very skilled at what they do. I recommend this place for anyone who needs good and honest Dentist!

3 months ago

Joshua M.

The doctors here are professional and super friendly. They have a willingness to help and cater to thier patients needs. Visits are very quick, so scheduling is hassle-free aswell. Would we not be moving out of state, my wife and I would love to make Thornton our forever dentist